Oil burner



Dec. 27, 1938. I A. "3. WALTON OIL BURNER Filed NOV. '11, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. flrz'fiar .23. 14 4220.

I I ATTORNEY.

KM. f

Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OIL BURNER troit, Mich.

Application November 11, 1935, Serial No. 49,194

7 Claims.

This invention relates to oil burners, and an Object of the invention is to provide an oil burner structure in which oil is fed to a well, a wall of which is of porous material and air is discharged over this well and a pilot light is maintained by the burning oil at thesurface of the porous material.

A feature of the invention is to provide an air conduit and fan for driving air therethrough in 0 which the conduit has two channels, one directing air in close proximity to the oil surface in the well and the other directing air thereover.

A further and additional feature of the invention is in providing a flow of oil to the well through an upwardly inclined conduit so that when the oil flow is caused to cease, the conduit will not empty into the well and continue the fire at a high rate for some period after the oil supply is shut off.

A further feature and oject of the invention is to provide a damper for the air channel of such character that, when the burner is shut off and the main oil flow has ceased, the damper will fully close the air channel through which air is directed over the oil well and permit a regulated amount of air to continue to flow directly to the oil well.

It is also a feature and object of the invention to provide a fire-pot into which the oil is directed thereinto at a tangent to the circumference and a fuel well formed therein at the point of entrance of both air and oil and with a partition separating the fuel well directly from the firepo't proper.

It is further an object and feature of the invention to provide a porous block forming a wall of the oil well and through and over which an air stream may flow to provide air for combustion, the block acting as a wick to feed oil to 4.0 a pilot flame which is produced at the edge of the block adjacent the flow of air. The block provides a means avoiding combustion at the discharge end of the oil tube in the fire-pot thereby preventing clogging of the same.

It is also an object and feature of the invention to provide a burner structure in which there is a vertical plate carrying the burner on one side and the control apparatus, motor and blower on the other.

These and other objects and various novel features of the invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed, and the preferred form of construction of an oil burner apparatus embodying my invention is shown in the 840001 panying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a plan View of my improved oil burner. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an end view taken from. the left side of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the oil well and porous block. Fig. 6 is a section through the air conduit taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 5. The oil burner in its preferred form comprises a base I of Y shape having the threaded legs 2, 2, 2 to adjust the level of the burner. On this base, preferably as an integral part thereof,. is a vertically positioned standard to which a ver- 5 tical plate 4 is secured by bolts 5 shown in Fig. 3. On one side of the plate 4 is supported the air conduit 6 which is flanged at 1 to receive the bolts 8. The fire-pot 9 is formed at the lower end of the conduit 6. This plate 4 has an aperture corresponding in shape to the shape of the discharge opening in the fan or blower casing H) which is bolted to the opposite side of the plate 4, the opening being shown in cross section in Fig. 4. The fan is here shown in section at H 25 as being of the sirocco type revoluble in the casing to discharge air into the air conduit 6 and thence to the fire-pot hereinafter described. The blower casing H! has a casing part l2 connected therewith housing the motor and the fan takes 30 its air from the left side of Fig. 3 drawing the same .across the motor thereby maintaining the same cool. To the bottom of the fan housing I0 is secured a bracket l4 having a foot providing a support for the float chamber I5 which 35 may be of any approved type. Oil is supplied to this chamber through a line 16 from any required source. There is an oil line I! leading from the float chamber to the fuel line I8 discharging to' the fire-pot 9. This is controllable by a valve whose adjustable stem is indicated at H! to provide for the desired volume of oil flow to the fire-pot.

A constant minimum oil supply is provided by a conduit 20 which is controlled by an adjustable valve connected to a stem 2| on the top of the float chamber IT. The oil line l8 to the fire-pot is upwardly inclined as shown so that the oil travels uphill to the fire-pot which has a well 22 to which the fuel line l8 discharges. There is provided on the rear end of the line i8 a removable cap or plug 23 which permits the opening of the oil line leading to the fire-pot for the purpose of cleanng.

The fire-pot is preferably of circular form as 55 indicated in Fig. 1 having a flame opening 24 in the cover 25 of less diameter than the fire-pot which, in view of the oil flowing about the periphery of the fire-pot, is designed to hold gases in suspension at the said walls until practically complete combustion takes place. The oil flows upwardly into the well 23 through the pipe I8 as beforestated. The fire-pot is preferably formed integrally with the downwardly inclined air channel 6 and in this air channel is a sheet metal plate 26 dividing the air channel longitudinally into an upper and a lower air passageway 26 and 26 respectively. The lower air passageway 26 is designed to insure a flow of air to and over the oil in the well 23 and the upper passageway 26 provides for an increased flow of air upon increased flow of oil when greater heat is required.

One feature of the invention consists in the provision of a porous flre brick or block 2'! as one wall of the oil well 22 and to a channel 28 to which the oil supply line l8 discharges. block is herein sometimes termed a wick block. The upward inclination of the wick block is to direct air flow entering the fire-pot upwardly and away from the pilot flame at the flange 3 i. This block has a small channel 29 opening to the air channel 26* below the partition 26 as indicated in Fig. 5 and discharging into the oil well just over the surface of the possible oil therein and partially above the bottom surface 30 of the fire-pot 9. The fire brick has a projecting portion 3! at its forward or fire-pot side providing a sort of hood over the discharge end of the air channel 29 therein and this air channel provides for production of a low flame. The oil in the well 22 is drawn up and around the face of the brick and under the canopy 3| due principally to partial vacuum produced by the air passing through the aperture 29 in the porous block. This arrangement assures maintenance of low flame and prevents the snufling out of the flame when additional air and oil are discharged to the well. Preferably, at the entrance side of the air channel 29 in the porous block, there is'provided an enlarged area or chamber 32 as a continuance of the air channel 26* from which the air channel 29 receives its air.

A partition element 33 is provided in the firepot forming one side of the oil well as will be understood from Figs. 5, '7 and 1, and it will be seen from Fig. 1 that the air channel 29 and oil well are at one side of theflre-pot 9 and direct air and oil vapor tangentially into the fire-pot to flow circumferentially of the wall and beneath the overhang of the cover member 25, the purpose being to prevent too rapid a flow of mixed oil and air from the fire-pot.

It is also the purpose to complete the combustion in the fire-pot rather than in the firing chamber of a stove or a furnace in which the pot is positioned in service. Thus the possibility of soot deposit is reduced to a minimum and dangers from carbon monoxide also similarly reduced.

It is essential to vary the air flow in respect to oil flow upon demand for heat. As with most oil burner structures, a room thermostat will be used which controls the circuit 34 to the motor switch and in this circuit is connected a lift This 40 to receive a rod 4| and the rod 36 is threaded at the lower end to receive an adjusting nut M The purpose of this nut is to slightly raise or lower the forward end of the lever which raises or lowers the rod 4!. To this rod 4! is connected a rod 42 which has secured to it a valve plate 43 riding in a slot formed in the upper surface of the discharge outlet 44 of the fan housing In. The rod 42, it is noted, extends to below the bottom edge of the plate 43 and in Fig. 4 is shown the dividing wall 26 in the air conduit passageway 6. When the valve plate is in the open position as shown in Fig. 4, air can flow into the air channel both above and below the dividing wall 26 and when the valve plate is dropped the bottom end of the rod 42 will hold the plate from completely closing the air passageway on the under side of the dividing wall 26. This will provide for a constant flow of air to the burner to maintain a'pilot flame at the wick block as before stated.

When the current is turned on by the room thermostat (not shown), the plate is lifted by the magnet armature connected with the rod 35. I have provided a means for varying the lift of the plate 43 by the magnet in the casing 35. This consists of a rod 45 which has one end that may be set into any of a number of openings indicated at 46 in the lever 353. The outer end of the rod is pivoted in a standard 4'! which is adjustable about the valve stem H! as a center to which the rod 43 is connected by a link 48. The bottom end of the standard is secured to a plate 49 which has an arcuate slot 59 therein and thus the end of the rod entering the aperture 45 may be changed nearer to or farther from the pivot point 39 of the lever 38 to vary the lift of the valve stem H! by the rod 45. Thus a varying degree of opening of the fuel control valve connected with the stem !9 may be secured as will be understood by the dotted lines 45 in Fig. 1. When in such dotted line position, the lever 45 will be raised a greater distance than if the lever 45 were connected to an aperture nearer the pivot point 39. The armate slot 56 in the plate 49 permits the linkage 48 to be maintained vertically over the valve stem l9 and secure a straight lift thereon irrespective of the particular position of the rod 45 with the lever 38.

The motor in this case is continuously in operation and, when the thermostat operates to close the circuit through the magnet 35, the valve plate 43 is raised to increase the volume of air delivered to the fire-pot and when the circuit is broken by the thermostat the valve plate 4-3 falls by gravity to closed position which also closes the oil valve controlled by the stem l9. Air continues to flow to the fire-pot through the lower air channel 26 to beneath the dividing wall 26 and maintain the pilot flame at the wick block which, under this latter condition, is supplied with oil from the conduit 20. V

Preferably the upper face of the wick block is upwardly inclined so that air flowing through the upper channel of the air conduit 6 will strikethe top of the wick block and by use of the air channel upwardly inclined from the fire-pot to the fan housing, I have provided an arrangement that is free'from flooding as an inch or two of oil might be provided in the fire-pot integral with the air channel without possibility of its overflowing.

The upwardly inclined fuel supply line to the flre-pot'is also desirable in that the fuel line does not empty by gravity after the main oil flow is cut off. In other words, there is practically an instant response in reduction of flame by shutting off the oil flow when the thermostat actuates the magnetic lift cutting off the main oil supply and major air channel 26*.

Having thus briefly described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. In an oil burner, a fire-pot open at the top and positioned in a substantially horizontal plane, an air supply conduit lying at an angle to the plane of the fire-pot and downwardly inclined in respect thereto, said fire-pot having an oil well, a fuel supply conduit lying at an angle and upwardly inclined in respect to the fire-pot and discharging to the fuel well, the air supply conduit being divided longitudinally to form an upper and a lower channel, the upper channel discharging over the oil well and the lower channel discharging thereinto, and valve means for varying the flow of air in volume per unit of time in the upper air channel.

2. In an oil burner, a fire-pot open at the top and positioned in a substantially horizontal plane, an oil well in the bottom thereof on one side, the fire-pot being open at the top and of a circular form interiorly, an air supply conduit discharging to the fire-pot at an angle to the horizontal, a fuel supply conduit discharging to the fuel well and being upwardly inclined in respect thereto, the air supply conduit being divided longitudinally to form an upper and lower channel, the upper channel discharging over the oil well and the lower channel discharging thereinto, means providing a pilot flame supplied by oil from the well and shielding the flame from direct air flow through either of the said air channels, and means for Varying the flow of air in volume per unit of time in the upper channel in respect to the volume of air flow in the lower channel.

3. In an oil burner, a fire-pot open at the top and positioned substantially in a horizontal plane, an air supply conduit discharging to the fire-pot at an angle to the horizontal, said conduit hav ing a longitudinally extending wall dividing the conduit into an upper and a lower channel, a liquid fuel well on one side of the fire-pot, a fuel supply conduit upwardly inclined in respect to and discharging to the fuel well, one wall of the fuel well being or porous material, said porous material having a channel therethrough open to the lower air channel and a channel therebelow to which the fuel line discharges, the porous material, due to absorption of oil, acting as a wick to maintain a pilot flame, and valve means for controlling the flow of air through the air channels.

4. In an oil burner, a fire-pot open at the top and positioned substantially in a horizontal plane, an air supply conduit discharging to the fire-pot at an angle to the horizontal, said conduit having a longitudinally extending wall dividing the conduit into an upper and a lower channel, a liquid fuel well on one side of the fire-pot, a fuel supply conduit upwardly inclined in respect to and discharging to the fuel well, one wall of the fuel well being of porous material, said porous material having a channel therethrough open to the lower air channel and a channel therebelow to which the fuel line discharges, the porous material, due to absorption of fuel, acting as a wick to maintain a pilot flame, and valve means for controlling'the air flow, said valve means being movable to close the upper channel and leaving the lower channel open to provide a constant low volume air supply for the pilot flame.

5. In an oil burner, a circular fire-pot open at the top and having a tangential air inlet on one side, an oil well provided in the bottom of the fire-pot at the air inlet, a porous fire resistant element positioned on the air inlet side of the oil well and forming a wall thereof, said fire resistant element having a channel for air opening to the well and a channel to receive oil, an air conduit divided longitudinally providing two air channels, the lower of which supplies air to the air channel of the said block and the upper of which discharges air to the surface of the fire resistant element at an angle to the horizontal, said element having an inwardly projecting edge portion providing a ledge above the channel therein, said element also serving as a wick to provide a pilot flame and the ledge shielding the flame from the main air flow to the burner.

6. In an oil burner, a fire-pot of circular form having an opening at the top and an air inlet on one side, means providing two channels discharging tangentially into the pot, said fire-pot having an opening at the top, a well formed in the bottom thereof and on one side to receive oil, the well having a bottom below the bottom wall of the pot, a partition wall on the inner side of the well and extending along the bottom of the pot for a distance from the well, means providing for a pilot flame sustained by the oil in the well, the air being discharged into the fire-pot at an angle to the horizontal, the portion of the air flowing in the lower air channel discharging into the top of the well and thereby carrying oil along the channelway formed between the said partition wall and side of the pot and air discharging through the upper channel into the pot in a plane above the said partition wall providing a lower strata of air and partially combusted fuel, and an upper strata of fresh air, both strati bein in a whirling mass and the upper strata of air providing for combustion of fuel as the fuel charged gases pass through the opening at the top of the pot.

7. In an oil burner, a fire-pot of circular form having an air inlet on one side, means providing two air channels discharging tangentially into the pot, said fire-pot having a circular opening at the top of less diameter than the pot, a well formed in the bottom thereof and on one side to' receive oil, a wall in the bottom of the pot separating the well from the main portion of the firepot, a porous element forming a wall of the well and acting as a wick to provide for a pilot flame, said wall having an aperture through which air may be discharged thereinto from the lower air channel over the oil in the well, the air in the upper channel being discharged onto the surface of the porous element to direct a stream of air tangentially of the fire-pot above the bottom of the fire-pot.

ARTHUR B. WALTON. 

